There's no rule that they have to get to the first elimination on the first night, even if it is a TBC leg or a NEL with an elimination on a second leg.
When I saw Peach's mention that four teams had bought Captain Cook's tour tickets, that made me think there is a TBC, and that the mention of the Express Pass goes to the first team that finds Phil, not necessarily the winner of the leg. Peach did not say teams were running away from Phil, but she did say the teams are not spending very much time with him. But she did say there was a local greeter -- a male surfer; so who knows at the moment if this was a complete leg with an elimination, an NEL or a TBC.